The Upper Madison is just about in its late winter goodness, and the forecast looks like it is going to cooperate for that to occur. Midges are bouncing around, but we haven't yet heard of any stellar reports of great dry fly fishing--and that could simply be because it is so good that local anglers are remaining tight-lipped about it...or it could be because it is just marginal...so...you gotta go to know. If you are not looking for great dry fly fishing, the tandem nymph fishing right now on the Upper Madison is pretty solid. Just focus on the slower water and the seams where slower water and faster water mix. Trout are avoiding the fast water that makes up a lot of this section of the river, so if you can find some slower runs, they will be filled with trout. The water near Ennis is a little more diverse than the “50 mile riffle” upstream and has some great holding water. Nymphing stoneflies trailed by smaller baetis nymphs has been effective. Eggs and some of the larger midge larva patterns, such as 3 dollar dips, are also a good option.
Best rigs right now are tandem nymph rigs with a size 10 or 12 Pat's Rubberlegs or Pheasant Tail paired with a smaller pattern--$3 Dips, Zebra Midges, and Rainbow Warriors are doing well.
The best fishing is in the slower water, which is sometimes hard to find on the Upper Madison. The waters around Ennis are a good bet since there are several really nice big winter runs that concentrate a lot of trout. Between the lakes stays ice free most of the winter, and as the snow slowly melts, accessing the river across the large snow banks often gets a little easier each day.
The Month Ahead:
Midges are here, and with the warm temps a lot more of the river is an option for good fishing compared to normal years. The next several weeks on the Upper Madison are all about daytime high temps and wind--if the day time highs stay above 40 or 50 degrees and the winds are relatively calm, it is Go-Time for the Upper Madison.
Long Term Fishing Forecast:
The Upper Madison is going to be a legit option for fishing from now on and for the long term. As March approaches and water temps slowly rise, the Upper Madison becomes one of our favorite local rivers.
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